Oxytetracycline/fizzy drinks/sickness and teeth

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I had my regular 6 monthly check-up at the dentist the other week and the dentist said that something on my teeth had worn away (can't remember what exactly!) but he asked me whether I drink a lot of fizzy drinks or had been sick a lot. I was quite surprised by this as I hardly ever drink fizzy drinks, it's usually tea or water and I'm only sick ocassionally.

After I got home I thought about it a little more. Can oxytetracycline cause something on the teeth to be worn away, the same as fizzy drinks and sickness? The tablets have a yellow coloring which has come off on my hand before, I'm wondering if the tablets are staining my teeth or something and causing this problem.

I've had a look at the patient information leaflet but can't find anything.

Do any of you take oxytetracycline and/or know anything that may be of use?

needaspirin

I guess that you are suffering from severe acne and your doctor has prescribed
this. If there are adverse effects go back to your doctor.

Sides effects are mainly gastro-intestinal and photosensitive allergic reactions common to the tetracycline antibiotics group.
Can also damage calcium rich organisms such as teeth and bones although this is very rare, the BNF suggests that because of this Tetracyclines should not be used to treat pregnant or lactating women and children under 12 except in certain conditions where it has been approved by a specialist because there are no obvious substitutes. Candidiasis (Thrush) is not uncommon following treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I've been taking oxytetracycline since I was 14, so about 8 years now.

Toothsmith

Tetracyclines do not affect the teeth once they have formed, but if taken whilst the teeth are forming they can stain them quite a nasty blueish brown colour.

This colour is extremely difficult to do anything about, and often teeth have to be capped or veneered in order to mask it.

This is why it should not be prescribed until at least 12 yrs old - the time the last crowns have formed.

Long term antibiotics can cause staining of the teeth, but this staining can easily be polished off.

I think from his questions, your dentist had spotted some sort of errosion going on. This is typically caused by acid. Be it fizzy drinks, stomach acid or fruit or it's juices.

You need to speak to your dentist about this again if you're unsure of what he was telling you. I'd have no idea of how serious he thought it was.

indiegirl_2

I took oxytetracycline and variants of for quite a few years and I'm convinced that they affected the colouring of my teeth. I would go back to your GP and ask the questions of him/her and ask to investigate alternative methods of treatment. There's no knowing how each individual will react to antibiotics!

I switched from oxy... to erythromycin (and yes, I know it's used to treat bladder infections!) and things (skin-wise!) cleared up no end.

I'm left with quite heavily stained teeth, despite not drinking fizzy drinks, and rarely drinking tea/coffee... my dentist even asked me if I smoked (I'm horrified.. never touched the weed!)!